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Development of the
Archive
Since 1998 library staff collected and collated information relating to the
tragic events of August 1998 and its aftermath with a view to creating an
archive. Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG) also collected relevant
material.
In 2001 the WELB and OSSHG decided to work in partnership and seek funding
to develop a searchable database of the material collected.
This significant and challenging project has involved many people throughout
the community. Both organisations have contributed to the project in different
ways to make information accessible to victims and families, researchers and
academics, the local community and across the world.
The Digital Archive
The WELB library service has collected, indexed and digitised all obtainable
press coverage relating to the Omagh Bomb. This website seeks to make the
archive available to a much wider audience.
The library service is working actively to extend the database.
omagh bomb digital archive
The Omagh Bomb
On the afternoon of Saturday 15th August 1998 at 3.10 p.m. a car bomb exploded
in Market Street, Omagh killing 29 people
and two unborn children, as well as injuring 370 people. It remains the largest
loss of life of any single incident in the history of the Northern Ireland
troubles.
The Material Collected
The archive collection includes over 10,500 newspaper
articles, 15,000 emails, 818 books of condolence,
52 videos, nearly 3,000 floral tribute cards, 1,000 sympathy cards and 20
patchwork quilts and cushions presented by the NI Patchwork Guild. The library
is still collecting and would welcome any further donations of material.
The Website
This website provides a fully searchable link to the holdings of the Omagh
Archive database. Other sections include general information about the town,
overviews of the first week and the first year after the bomb, the Petals
of Hope pictures, Omagh Library and The Omagh Support & Self Help Group.
The site is best viewed at a screen resolution of 1024 pixels x 768 pixels.